Bicycle Mechanics - Using old tubes as puncture patches

Last Sunday was a glorious day and my two sons were itching for a bike ride on their mountain bikes.

We got the bikes out of the shed and found one tire had a puncture.

I ripped off the tire and found no less than a dozen tiny holes in the tube due to thorns embedded in the tire. The problem was I only had three puncture patches and the LBS was shut.

Not wanting to disappoint the kids I decided to cut up an old tube and make patches from it. The beauty of doing this was that I could cover several holes with one giant patch.
The repair seems to have worked well because the tire is still up after 2 days and I over inflated it to around 60 psi.

That got me thinking . What is so special about the patches they sell in those expensive repair kits and is the glue special.
Could you use normal rubber contact glue such as Bostik Contact Bond. I haven't tried this glue yet but I think its worth a go.


What does everyone think of these ideas ?

If it seems to work and there are no side effects then fine. On lighter bikes/wheels, large patches of old inner tube could unbalance the wheel. I've been using Parks glueless patches. Very light, easy to use, and great for on the road as they take up next to no room.

if you go to a large store such as K-mart, Fred Meyer or another simalar store(they sell everything from clothes, grocerys, outdoor gear, automotive stuff, etc...) and find the bike area, they will have a generic 'bike' patch kit. it will sell for around 4 or 5 bucks.

now walk over to the automotive or outdoor section of the store and they will have the EXACT same kit labeled for general repair. it will sell for about 2 bucks.

rubber cement and rubber are all that are in the patch kits and as mentioned above, lighter, thinner tubes and tires need a lighter thinner patch. but for most kids and mtn. bikes any type of patch will work.

if you really want to save some cash go to the hardware store and purchase a large tub of rubber cement and then go the the bike shop and ask for all the old tubes they are throwing out. cut up your own patches.

but for long bike rides, carrying the big tub of rubber cement might not be so fun....

On my 27"wheel wet weather bike i've got tyre-liners fitted I ve used a peice of inner tube about 4" long and opened up length ways ,placed over the tube were the joins in the liners are to stop any rubbing or pinching at the joint . just another use for old inner tubes.;)

What I do is buy an bottle of vucanising solution or whatever it is called. Don't do this from a bike shop. I got my last bottle free because it had been sitting on the shelf of ats(a road side car tyre/exhaust fitter type place).
Then I buy the rema tip/top (black with red edging) patches buy the 100. Try and find an online bikeshop that sells them. Your lbs will proberly try and rip you off with these as well. The rubber glue will go off over time. Keeping it in the fridge will increase its life.

The advantage of the proper patches over old inner tube is mainly the featherd edging which maked the patch much less likley to peel off when the tube is removed/inserted.

I concur with d-D, I tried cut up inner tubes (thin) 90-100gm types but the patches curl up and are pretty lumpy with variable results. Packs of 100 patches should be less than $20, and I have seen quotes in the $15 range. The patches are available in 20 and 25mm circles. Probably available in rectangles as well but for 20-28mm tires rectangles are a bit large. The packs are in every bike shops master catalog and are a lot cheaper than patch kits. Walmart patch kits are oriented toward larger tires and have thick nontapered patches in them. These are good for casing cuts though. Park patches have never worked for me, they get me home but the next day the tire is flat again. Failure rate was >80% and they are not easily removed without leaving a bunch of glue that makes proper repair difficult. They also make good tire casing cut repair patches. Steve

I've had no problem with Park patches - or should I say patch as I've only needed one in 4000 miles. Whether that's luck, or running MTB tyres and corresponding pressure I can't say...

I just pack a bunch of spare tubes, but I have a patch kit for a real emergency, I've never used it yet though.

I carry three tubes and walmart patch kit-havn't had trouble with either of them.